Method for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A method for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle. The headlights are operated in a low beam mode such that a low beam distribution is emitted by the headlights. An object is detected in front of the motor vehicle during operation in the low beam mode. An automatic reduction of a light intensity distribution is triggered exclusively in a region of the low beam distribution. the size and position of which depends on a distance of the motor vehicle from the object, on a position of the object and on a width of the object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for controlling headlights of a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
 operating the headlights in a low beam mode so that a low beam distribution is emitted by the headlights;   detecting an object in front of the motor vehicle during operation in the low beam mode; and   triggering, upon detection of the object, an automatic reduction of a light intensity distribution solely in a region of the low beam distribution, a size and position of which are a function of a distance of the motor vehicle from the object, from a position of the object, and from a width of the object.   
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reduction of the light intensity distribution is triggered only when the distance of the object from the motor vehicle is less than a distance threshold value. 
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the distance threshold value is 15 meters at most or 10 meters at most. 
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the light intensity of the low beam distribution outside the region is maintained substantially simultaneously with the reduction of the light intensity distribution in the region. 
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the reduction of the light intensity distribution is triggered only when the motor vehicle is traveling at a speed below a speed threshold or is stationary. 
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the low beam distribution is designed as a city low beam distribution. 
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the reduction of the light intensity distribution, the light intensity is set to a fixed value. 
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein during the reduction of the light intensity distribution, the light intensity in the region is controlled as a function of a brightness that is determined in the region. 
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the object includes a group of multiple motor vehicles, wherein the region includes multiple sections that are separate from one another, and one motor vehicle from the group is situated in each of the sections. 
     
     
         10 . A control unit for headlights of a motor vehicle, the control unit comprising:
 an electronic digital memory medium; and   a digital signal processing unit,   wherein machine-readable instructions are stored in the memory medium, and   wherein the digital signal processing unit is designed to read out and execute the instructions, and during execution of the instructions to control the headlights by the method according to  claim 1 .   
     
     
         11 . A motor vehicle that comprising at least one headlight and the control unit according to  claim 10 .